ROCKFORD — Sunday’s weather was perfect for a community picnic, and hundreds from the Rock River Valley converged on the grounds of Midway Village Museum for that exact purpose.

They strolled the grounds, rested under shade and learned more about turn-of-the-century Rockford while participating in the museum’s free 40th anniversary celebration.

There was plenty to do among docents wearing period costumes and activities stationed throughout the replica of a hardy Northern Illinois town.

Henry and Mary Montgomery, who live near Rockton, stopped at a table to prepare lavender water from distilled water, vodka and essential lavender oil. They proceeded to have a lengthy conversation with garden historian Tari Rowland near a lavender plant surrounded by poppies, chamomile and Cup Plant, an Illinois wildflower.

Mary Montgomery picked up several tips such as when to cut back her lavender and how to make chamomile tea.

“She was wonderful,” Montgomery said of Rowland, who let her keep the lavender water for cooling off later in the day. “Most of the stuff in this garden we have at home.”

There was turn-of-the-century baseball, crocheting, and badminton. Those who ventured into the museum’s 26 historical structures — such as a town hall, police station and schoolhouse — were exposed to more civic lessons.

Three members of the Rockford Amateur Radio Association set up a telegraph operator system between the museum’s bank and print shop. Richard Range, 69, of Rockford, was on the receiving end, listening for the clackity-clack of messages at the print shop, which came through in Morse code on his earphones.

In the age of cellphones and text messages, “we don’t normally get a chance to expose things like this to the public,” said Range, appreciating the experience and the opportunity to introduce a younger generation to amateur radio history.